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Monthly Archives: April 2017

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The flight was an early morning one from Stansted, so I opted to travel up the night before and stay at the Radisson Blu hotel which you can walk via a covered walkway from the main terminal building. It was a bit more expensive that the other hotels in the area but none of the others were walking distance from the hotel, so it worked out to be approximately the same when you took into account the price of busses or taxis from other hotels to the airport. The Radisson Blu is a four star hotel and the facilities and hotel itself were of a high standard, another bonus was they served breakfast (in room) from 2am which worked well for me as I had a full English breakfast at 4.30am, what a bargain and great service. Once I got to Lanzarote getting through the airport was quicker than I thought but there was a slight delay with the transfer. I had booked a shared transfer through HolidayTaxi.com which was quite cheap and had no problems at all with them apart from the 30 minutes I waited before they left.

I opted to stay in the quiet area of Puerto Calero. This small town is known for its quiet and calmer feeling, which is why I chose it. Situated on the outskirts of Puerto del Carmen, it is part of the Yaiza municipality which also covers the Playa Blanca. There are two main hotels in Puerto Calero, Hotel Costa Calero (4 Star) and the Hesperia (5 Star) and like any town there are also several self-catering apartments for rent. I stayed at the four starred Hotel Costa Calero and my experience here was fantastic, the hotel was spacious, well-kept and clean, staff were always friendly and helpful and the facilities were first class.

In some ways, because it’s so cheap and easy to telephone long distance, it’s taken some of the adventure out of traveling abroad, especially on long trips or backpacking tours of the world. One of the attractions was to be cut of from the rest of the world, but now everyone is traveling around with mobile phones in their luggage and is expected to call home from time to time just to check in.

When I’m overseas I simply carry a mobile that allows me to change the SIM card inside the phone. These can be purchased locally and often give you immediate access to the networks. It always a good idea to compare tariff and rates before buying, so it’s important to know what you will be using your phone for, i.e. local calls or communication abroad. When I was in the UK last, I bought a phone card called Asia Direct, or something like that. It cost just £10 and I was chatting to various countries in South East Asia every day for a week and still I had credit to spare when I left England. It was absolutely incredible value for money.

Though it’s now considered cheap to telephone long distance, it is still necessary to be mindful that some companies still charge extortionate rates for the service. Mainly hotels. In fact they probably make as much money on overseas calls as they do renting rooms! If you need to use hotel phones for any reason, make sure you check out the call charges in advance or you could be in for a nasty surprise on checkout!

I’ve listed below a few of the more popular ways to telephone long distance:

Mobile direct calling: Many special deals around these days, but check first. Also international Phone cards where you punch the details into your cell phone and dial a special number prior to connecting.

Springtime is giving us a preview of the weather to come here in the Pacific Northwest, and my thoughts naturally turn to golf. And when my thoughts turn to golf, they invariably wander off to dream of golfing in Ireland.

Ireland offers some of the most magnificent and challenging golf experiences to be had. Indeed, with the hundreds of courses to be found throughout the country, there is an interesting and unique golf experience for just about any level of play. One can find courses providing expansive and breathtaking views of the sea or travel inland to play courses that seem to have been created from magic, such are the stunning colors and vistas of the Inland.

For the true aficionado, a golfing tour of Ireland can only be described as heaven. With the numbers of golf course and accommodations available, there are literally thousands of combinations that can be made to make your tour unique. A quick search online brings more than 1 million opportunities to find the plan that works best for you, your skill, and your budget. There are a number of firms who will shape a tour specific to your desired itinerary. Of course, if you have the time and inclination, designing your own tour and making the arrangements is another option.

The organized tours generally consist of a 6 or 7 day stay and opportunity to play 4 or 5 different courses. You are transported by coach or car, and all tee times and accommodations are taken care of (including a full Irish breakfast each day). Double occupancy rates are adjusted if your traveling companion would rather be visiting castles while you play. There are also options for you to drive the tour on your own, making your own arrangements for a rental car.

If your budget permits, you may want to look at the several opportunities to stay at a castle hotel and golf resort. There are also many manor accommodations at or near golf resorts and the more traditional hotel golf resorts. Naturally, your choice will depend somewhat on your budget.